Complete Live Report

Live commentary by:

Daniel Benson

Hello and welcome to live coverage from stage 15 of the Vuelta from La Robla to Lagos de Covadonga.

12:48:38 BST

It may not be as tough as the Angliru or several of the other epic ascents that the Vuelta organisers have located recently but Lagos de Covadonga is arguably the race’s classic climb. Appearing for the 18th time on the route, it has regularly provided the launchpad for a move towards overall victory. The parcours gets severe 50km from the finish, where the riders start up the short cat 1 Puerto del Fito. Covadonga starts off gently but ramps up viciously just before the 10km banner. The 6km up to the infamous La Huesera – "the boneyard" – are brutal. The whole race could very well be won or lost here.

12:49:10 BST

Bingen Fernandez:

"Lagos! Over the years, this has always been an important climb when it comes to the GC. This stage will trim down those in contention even further. It’s the middle of three brutal stages and they seem to run three in a row quite regularly."

134.5km remaining from 186.5km

12:53:15 BST

To bring you right up to speed. We've covered 52 km of racing this morning/afternoon and we have a group of ten riders off the front of the peloton with an advantage of under advantage of less than a minute.

There was a split in the bunch earlier, with Valverde losing a few seconds (on a downhill section) but he's rejoined the other GC favouitres.

13:03:38 BST

13:07:36 BST

Daniel Moreno, Rodriguez's right hand man, has crashed. We'll bring you more on the situation as soon as we have it.

116.5km remaining from 186.5km

13:12:10 BST

Cataldo has also come down in the crash and he needs medical assistance on the road side.

13:18:25 BST

At the head of the race De La Fuente who was struggling for a team at the end of last season, leads the break over the climb.

13:21:12 BST

The lead is now up to 8:50 as the break race through Langreo. We've still no news on Cataldo or Moreno from the earlier crash.

13:27:14 BST

Kashechkin is the highest placed GC rider in the group. The Astana rider is 22:34 down on Rodriguez as the gap to the break goes out to 9:15.

13:34:35 BST

It's a decent looking break too. Lastras has won stages in the Vuelta (last year in fact) and the Tour and the Giro. He's 36 now and he's been with the same team throughout his career, signing with Banesto a year after Indurain retired.

13:36:51 BST

Lagutin was top 20 last year, the two Astana boy can both climb as well.

13:37:50 BST

No news on Moreno by the way so we assume he's still in the race but in the middle of the bunch. His Katusha teammates are setting the pace on the front for now.

99.5km remaining from 186.5km

13:40:42 BST

We've raced nearly 90km and the lead is close to ten minutes. Movistar and SaxoBank will be content to let Katusha do all of the work at the moment.

13:50:24 BST

Here's where we stand on GC.

Rodriguez was superb yesterday, answering every question posed of him from Contador and Valverde and in the end, despite Contador's aggression, it was Rodriguez who took the stage and extended his lead on GC.

14:00:18 BST

14:13:39 BST

14:21:19 BST

Regarding the final climb, it's 1135m, and has a length just short of 14km with an average gradient of 6.9 per cent.

14:23:56 BST

Located in the stunning Picos de Europa range that is still home to bears and wolves, its steepest sections, which reach 15 per cent, is known as La Huesera.

73.5km remaining from 186.5km

14:28:46 BST

The leaders now have 13 minutes on the Katusha led peloton.

14:46:46 BST

At the start of the stage this morning, Chris Froome told the Vuelta's official website: "I like the atmosphere of La Vuelta a España more than the Tour de France. I like the Spanish culture and the attitude of the people. Spectators have many Spanish riders to encourage and they also encourage me. That helps me to keep my motivation high even though I'm a little tired."

15:03:35 BST

The leaders are approaching the Mirador del Fito with a lead of over 14 minutes. Katusha continue to set the pace on the front of the peloton but they won't be worried by this break at the moment.

15:06:36 BST

This is a tough climb with an average gradient of 8.3 per cent.

15:10:48 BST

Katusha are closing in on the foot of the climb but up ahead in the break riders have their jerseys unzipped and flapping in the wind as they tackle the lower slopes of the climb. Simon Geschke is on the front and setting the pace.

42km remaining from 186.5km

15:16:22 BST

Just over 40km to go and the gap goes out to 14'55.

15:19:32 BST

Sky and Rabobank have both moved closer to the front of the peloton, positioning Froome, ten Dam and Gesink closer to the action. It will be interesting to see what card Mollema plays today. If he has the legs, will Rabobank use him to go on the attack or will be ride in next to Gesink and ten Dam for as long as possible.

36km remaining from 186.5km

15:27:31 BST

The break are now on the descent of the climb, after de la Fuente took maximum points again.

31km remaining from 186.5km

15:32:16 BST

Clearly a winner will come from this break as they have a lead over 14 minutes with just over 30km to go.

15:37:05 BST

The break are in the valley between the final two climbs. They need to keep their advantage over the 11-12 minute mark as Reynes goes back to the Lotto team car to pick up a new set of bidons.

15:41:24 BST

Dekker has run off the road and needs a new wheel by the the looks of it.

22km remaining from 186.5km

15:44:00 BST

Katusha led the bunch over the top of the climb and the advantage to the break is now 12:49.

15:50:54 BST

The riders in the break about about 5 km from the foot of the climb proper but they're still sharing the workload between them, with the gap now at 13:28.

15:53:05 BST

Saxo Bank have taken a back seat today, especially compared to yesterday after they did so much work for Contador. It's Katusha who have controlled the bunch for the majority of the stage.

16:01:11 BST

The break are now on the lower slopes of the climb, still with a gap close to 14 minutes. Mondory is on the front but immediately one of the Astana riders increases the pace and riders have already been dropped.

16:02:07 BST

A slight lull in pace and Lagutin, one of those who was dropped, is able to latch back on.

Another injection of pace from an Astana rider and this time a move goes clear.

16:02:38 BST

Lastras leads a counter-attack and again it's all back together.

16:05:06 BST

Pierdra establishes a small gap but Lastras, and the rest of the group quickly move to close it down.

16:06:58 BST

Piedra, has though, pushed his advantage out to around 100 meters.

16:07:15 BST

The Caja Rural rider has 22 seconds on the chase group.

16:11:29 BST

Sky have moved to the front of the peloton with Stannard doing the damage as up ahead Piedra has pushed his lead out to 44 seconds.

16:12:16 BST

Stannard's done and now Saxo Bank are back as the peloton lead onto the lower slopes of the final climb.

16:13:06 BST

This have everyone stretched out and riders are sprinting to get back into contention and Froome is already in trouble. Valverde has to sprint to get back.

16:14:00 BST

Navarro has gone off the front, Quintana attacks to mark him as Uran sets the pace for the GC favourites.

8km remaining from 186.5km

16:14:41 BST

8km to go for Piedra as Sky catch Quintana.

8km remaining from 186.5km

16:14:42 BST

8km to go for Piedra as Sky catch Quintana.

16:15:17 BST

The Rodriguez group is down to less than 30 men though with Cunego already dropped.

16:17:16 BST

Contador order another teammate to attack and again it's matched by a domestique from Movistar.

16:18:19 BST

Piedra is on a section of 14 per cent as Hernandez attacks for Saxo Bank.

16:19:18 BST

Euskaltel have joined the Saxo/Movistar move off the front of the bunch.

16:19:43 BST

Piedra has 1:18 on the chase group of Mondory and co.

16:21:29 BST

This has put Katusha pack on the front of the peloton - or rather -what's left of it - and it looks like Rabobank are riding defensively at the moment. Anton has made it into the Hernandez group.

16:22:00 BST

It's up to 15 per cent for Piedra now as he's cheered on by the thousands of fans on the road side.

16:23:09 BST

Contador has three men in the Hernandez group. How long until he tries to close the gap with one big attack?

16:23:54 BST

And Gesink attacks.

16:26:12 BST

The Navarro/Anton/Hernandez group has been brought back.

16:27:26 BST

Rodriguez is near the front with Moreno at his side and still Piedra is holding his own. His lead is at 1:03 over the chase group.

16:27:51 BST

A Movistar rider attacks and is matched by Euskaltel.

16:28:25 BST

And Gesink is on the front setting the pace. Froome is at the very back of the group.

16:29:12 BST

And Anton has attacked.

16:29:48 BST

Rabobank are looking to drop Froome it seems.

16:30:28 BST

Froome has two men with him but he's right at the back of the group with Roche right next to him.

3km remaining from 186.5km

16:31:26 BST

Just 3km to go for Piedra as Froome is really in trouble. Contador is near the back too... but he's chatting.

16:31:57 BST

And Valverde attacks with Contador with him. Rodriguez is there too.

16:33:02 BST

And Froome is in pieces now as Valverde joins up with a teammate. Contador and Rodriguez are just following for now.

16:33:33 BST

Quintana is the man with Valverde as they catch and pass Anton.

16:33:57 BST

Contador slips back onto Rodriguez's wheel.

16:34:27 BST

Froome is around 30 seconds down and he's struggling to stay with Uran and Henao as now Contador attacks.

16:35:05 BST

Rodriguez goes with him and Valverde too but at a slower rate in chase.

16:35:25 BST

Contador just can't get rid of Rodriguez.

16:35:58 BST

Piedra will take the stage. He's inside the final km.

16:36:47 BST

Valverde meanwhile moves to the front of the GC group of three and sets the pace. He simply wants to put time into Froome and secure that final podium place.

16:37:30 BST

Contador goes again and Rodriguez waits, he doesn't panic and he now he goes after him.

16:37:46 BST

And this is a little tougher to close this time around.

16:39:24 BST

Valverde and Quintana come up to Contador and Rodriguez.

16:39:35 BST

Froome is 40 seconds back.

16:39:57 BST

3km to go for Contador and co.

16:41:33 BST

Cut and paste: Again Contador attacks, Rodriguez catches him.

16:43:11 BST

Quintana attacks and they let him go.

16:43:27 BST

Froome is at 37 seconds.

16:44:06 BST

Contador brings them back to Quintana.

16:44:26 BST

And Froome has been dropped by the Gesink group.

16:46:33 BST

Valverde, Rodriguez, and Contador finish in the same time.

16:47:25 BST

Froome finishes a further 42 seconds down in a group that included Talansky and Gesink.